Good gravy!!! This week literally FLEW by!! Really, every day is going by faster and faster! I still can't decide if that's a good thing or not- but when I just focus and work hard and love the people, it's all ok:) One of the elders in my zone said that we need to not only "Return with Honor" to our individual homes, but we should strive to Return with Honor every single night. That's so true...not just for a missionary, but for all of us. Are we all doing everything we possibly can each day to do good and to follow God? If not...DO IT!!! :) It brings great joy and peace:)

Well, this week I have a learned so much!!! Like I said, it was really a back to basics week for a lot of reasons:) Here are some of the things I learned:

1. The power of a smile. As a missionary, sometimes we can't speak the language or we have an appointment we need to get to, so we can't stop and talk with everyone, but my goal as been to wave and smile at EVERY SINGLE PERSON we pass, so that someday, when missionaries come up and talk to them, they'll think "Oh yeah, I know who you are! We never got a chance to talk, but I've seen missionaries before and they we were always so kind and waved even though they didn't know me!" A smile plants seeds, but it also shows that you care and that's what we're all to do- is love EVERYONE around us! Missionary work is basically the greatest thing ever because we have an excuse to talk and smile at random strangers...it's pretty much my favorite thing to do, and now I get to do it FULL TIME! :)

2. Don't forget the unique message of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Earlier this week I felt comfortable with the work, adjusted to the schedule, I love the culture now...all was well, but I still felt like something was missing and I couldn't figure out what it was. Finally though I realized what it was- it was the message that makes our church unique. Other churches believe in God and prayer too, but we believe that Christ's true church was lost, but now it is restored and along with it all the truths we need to know in order to live with Heavenly Father again. As a companionship, we were having great lessons about prayer and family, but we weren't going straight to the most powerful part of our message. Once I thought about that, my happiness and joy doubled!!!! I knew I would be happy out on a mission, but I didn't know it would come from the opportunity to go out and share this message. It's beautiful and it's so precious and simple:)

3. I'm learning about patience and humility. I fasted for the gift of tongues (the ability to speak the language better) on Sunday, and my answer? "Be patient." So many times we expect God to do it all because we asked in faith didn't we??? But He's still teaching us, and we're still human! Things take time. But something I also realized is that many times our prayers are already being answered, and we are so focused on one big miracle that we fail to appreciate the small mercies that God has already given us! So no, I can't miraculously teach an entire lesson in Tagalog, but I have noticed that my capacity to understand what others are saying and to teach gospel principles have increased. So don't forget the small blessings God already gives us:) Be patient- I promise it'll come :)

Sorry this is kind of a shorter one, but things really are good here!! I love the culture...I feel a part of it now!:) It's so much fun:) I'm also happy to report that I am making progress in my cooking skills!! lol not really, but at least I can put something on the table that is edible;) I even made my first breakfast the other day- cubed potatoes with burger lol!!! It's funny, because all we have is a gas table top stove (which is honestly more than most people have here), but as I was bending over to light it, I turned the gas on, then lit a match and WHOOSH!!!! Flames everywhere! (But at least I didn't set off the smoke alarm like I did the other day when I was just eating up water! hahaha). Anyways, I happily cooked breakfast, it was all good, but then I looked in the mirror and I had burned my bangs!!! Good thing I still have eyebrows hahahahaha!! Life is definitely an adventure here.:)

Thanks everyone for you're love and support- I love you all so much and I want the best for you!! Keep being the shining, bright examples you are!! And don't waste time- if there's things you feel you need to do, people you need to visit, things you want to change, do it now!!! :)

I know this Church is true. I know God lives and answers prayers. I know He cares for each and everyone one of us, and I know that the only way back to Him is through baptism and following the gospel for the rest of our lives. We may think that commandments are holding us back, but I can testify that they actually free us. Don't hold yourself back from those blessings:)